How I Learned Chinese

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024

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  • @Thelinguist
    @Thelinguist  3 ปีที่แล้ว +115

    I learned Mandarin Chinese 50 years ago in Hong Kong, not a Mandarin speaking place at that time. How did I do it? Watch my video.
    Where I Learn Languages ⇢ www.lingq.com/
    ---
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    • @angelsrosena
      @angelsrosena 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I have a question: how many hours (per day) do you focus on a language when you start learning it?

    • @Thelinguist
      @Thelinguist  3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      this varies. But right now I would say an hour or so a day mostly listening. Some days I'll put more effort into reading.

    • @jonasarnesen6825
      @jonasarnesen6825 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      How long would it take you to learn all the almost 300 Chinese languages.

    • @taolin6810
      @taolin6810 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Do you speak German? You have the German familyname "Kaufmann", Kauf means buy.
      Ich habe in der Schweiz an der Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich Theoretische Physik studiert.
      I can speak High German and Swiss German as well as my motherlanguage Chinese.
      Ich kann mit anderen auf Deutsch über Quanten Feld Theorie, über Quantenmechanik diskutieren.

    • @shreddder999
      @shreddder999 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      How do foreign people like Anming and Xiaoma get their Chinese names?

  • @jameswright2140
    @jameswright2140 3 ปีที่แล้ว +426

    I would never have guessed you are 75! All that language learning must keep you so sharp!

    • @lucasrba
      @lucasrba 3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      Ikr, certainly the language learning process have a great participation in his mental health. I know people from his age that didn't study and are really old, Steve doesn't seem old, it's incredible.

    • @nicoleraheem1195
      @nicoleraheem1195 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Same

    • @annilanta4583
      @annilanta4583 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Thought he was 50

    • @annilanta4583
      @annilanta4583 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Gerry Freeman what do you mean

    • @annilanta4583
      @annilanta4583 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Gerry Freeman how old do you think he looks ? Looks 50 to me !

  • @phillipnelson508
    @phillipnelson508 3 ปีที่แล้ว +224

    Most TH-camrs are so boring rambling on....This 13 minute video FLEW by.
    You are an inspiration and a friend that every language would love to have, just to talk with.
    You are a way cool dude. 👍🏻

    • @Thelinguist
      @Thelinguist  3 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      Wow, thank you!

    • @kimtimothy3764
      @kimtimothy3764 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I agree with the part learning a language needs motivation,that‘s how I learned English@@Thelinguist

  • @SimpleChineseYoutube
    @SimpleChineseYoutube 3 ปีที่แล้ว +119

    Learning Chinese is such a useful skill and it's also super rewarding! It's a great brain workout too! I encourage everyone to give it a try!

    • @利群-f6r
      @利群-f6r 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      i want to learn english🙂

  • @phoenixhou4486
    @phoenixhou4486 3 ปีที่แล้ว +118

    I’m Chinese and I dunno why I’m watching this lol 😂大家加油啦!💪🏼

    • @r0conscious
      @r0conscious 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      谢谢哥们儿😁

    • @phoenixhou4486
      @phoenixhou4486 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@r0conscious 哈哈没问题哥们儿 没事来我频道看看!

    • @r0conscious
      @r0conscious 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@phoenixhou4486 好,我关注你,视频看起来不错!

    • @phoenixhou4486
      @phoenixhou4486 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@r0conscious 谢谢!

    • @ayi3455
      @ayi3455 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@phoenixhou4486
      I understand 6 foreign languages : English, German, French, Arabic, Russian, and Mandarin with different levels of abilities.
      I speak German pretty well, and been to Munich to learn German.
      It was long time ago that I reached B2 level, nearly C1.
      But it seems that my German deteriorates.
      I also learned French and Russian, but I don't speak those languages very well like my German, and of course, my fluent English.
      Now I'm learning Mandarin, and I believe my Mandarin reached A2 or B1 level, because I got Hsk-3 in October 2019.
      The problem is maintaining the ability.
      Once you get the B level, you start to be fed up with the language you have learned, unless you have a very high motivation and specific purpose to learn the language.
      And after that the next question is whether you can maintain the level that has been attained.
      I reached B2 or even almost C1 in German long time ago, but now it seems that I can only answer relatively correct the B1 level.
      My German deteriorates.
      Language is a matter of habits and habitation....

  • @EasyFinnish
    @EasyFinnish 3 ปีที่แล้ว +72

    I love your background, BOOKS!

    • @LummyTum
      @LummyTum 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      KNOWLEDGE

    • @myeramimclerie7869
      @myeramimclerie7869 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      and not just for display, he seems to have actually read all of them 👏

  • @tedc9682
    @tedc9682 3 ปีที่แล้ว +59

    You still speak it today. That reminds me of my Spanish. I took Spanish classes for 3 years on high school (1962-65), but never became conversational. Recently you had a video with Pablo, whose Dreaming Spanish is intermediate content. I was amazed to find I could understand his videos, 55 years later.

    • @fivantvcs9055
      @fivantvcs9055 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Spanish as rather close language to English can be sticked easily in one's mind, if it is well studied and retained during the initial learning. I would say probably due to the simplicity and the obviousness of its phonology + the resemblances.

    • @nicoleraheem1195
      @nicoleraheem1195 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Congrats to you on your progress 💜💜

    • @attaulmomin
      @attaulmomin 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I am an Urdu speaker and here we have an idiom that says (when someone don't understands you , you ask them) "Did I say this in Persian?" and yesterday I watched a video on poly-glot-a-lot's channel and I was surprised to see that I could understand the 90% of the conversation .

  • @jasiec9772
    @jasiec9772 3 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    Omg as a Chinese girl who now live in Toronto, it’s so impressive and appreciated to see someone who knows so much Chinese history even more than me.🥺 Bringing me back to those days I was dying and trying so hard to remember the stuff in history textbook. (BTW i recently discovered interests in Japanese but still stuck on hiragana and katakana lol, you’re such an amazing man!)

    • @Eric-le3uu
      @Eric-le3uu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hiragana isn't too difficult. Katakana on the other hand...

    • @toothpasteboy1763
      @toothpasteboy1763 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      那学习日文汉字应该难不倒你 •̀.̫•́✧

    • @Odraya5809
      @Odraya5809 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Haha Lord bless

  • @WoodpeckerLearning
    @WoodpeckerLearning 3 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    So inspiring to hear about how it was decades ago, especially when you think of all the tools we have today right on our smart devices to immerse anywhere on the globe and it's still a challenge!

  • @ta3allam_turkish
    @ta3allam_turkish 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    I am 23 now and i just started learning chinese 💚 thank you

  • @vaister
    @vaister ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Fantastic, so extremely interesting and inspiring. I use LingQ with 173 days and 6000 words learned in the beautiful german language; my mother tongue is spanish. Today, after my 6000 words learned in Deutsch, I just began to speak… to express for my first time since the 173 days in Alemán. I just love it, thank you Sir.

  • @cmmndrblu
    @cmmndrblu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Such good advice Steve, I began my Chinese journey with an early version of Lingq over 10 years ago- and it was the thing that helped me believe I could do it. These days I am a paid subscriber and I tell everyone I can about it. Thank you for creating such an excellent system.

    • @Thelinguist
      @Thelinguist  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks for sharing!

  • @Cam-vg7lb
    @Cam-vg7lb 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Steve you're a inspiration to all generations

  • @maitlandbezzina2842
    @maitlandbezzina2842 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Thank you for this Steve!
    I have been learning (slowly) for the past 18 months now, spending about 5-15 minutes a day training my Mandarin. Your videos have been a source of motivation for me to keep going over this period of time! Just recently, I landed a fully funded scholarship to Taiwan for 2 years and am planned to move overseas to study at university and at a language school in Taipei, paid by the Australian government. Thanks again for providing content for Mandarin learners such as myself, it means a lot!

    • @wanda5548
      @wanda5548 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      i know this sounds weird coming from a stranger but congrats!

    • @maitlandbezzina2842
      @maitlandbezzina2842 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@wanda5548 Thank you! It means a lot, very exciting adventure to come!

    • @wanda5548
      @wanda5548 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@maitlandbezzina2842 good luck!!! tbh i'm really happy for you and you motivated me to keep going!

    • @Thelinguist
      @Thelinguist  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Wow. congratulations and thank you for letting me know.

    • @agnetaolofsson6441
      @agnetaolofsson6441 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Congratulations! I’ve lived in Taiwan for almost 15 years. It’s THE best country! You’re gonna love it here.

  • @MrGanbat84
    @MrGanbat84 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Woow. I respect your effort. I am learning Chinese now. ❤❤❤. Very interesting language and my eyes are open now.

  • @mudkip_btw
    @mudkip_btw ปีที่แล้ว +2

    "The music of the dialogue" is exactly what got me through the hardest part of learning to understand Japanese. So important! Also very enjoyable to me as you slowly pick up more and more

  • @cheval63sg
    @cheval63sg 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Great story! Your fellow countryman Dashan 大山 goes one step further : he performs Xiangsheng 相声!

  • @leas2984
    @leas2984 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Finding a passion in each language's culture is so helpful! It's very intuitive but your explanation is so poignant! Thank you.

  • @GuoJing2017
    @GuoJing2017 3 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    Interesting about the comedy sketches to help you with tones, I found in some Chinese dubbed anime and historical dramas when they speak all dramatic a lot of the tones are overstressed which helped me I feel so far. Still have a long way to go though

  • @bozhu-d6q
    @bozhu-d6q 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    非常厉害非常亲切的老先生,感谢您提供的这些很有趣的学习方法,当然,个人认为最重要的是持之以恒,以及充沛的兴趣

  • @atanasijenedeljkovic3220
    @atanasijenedeljkovic3220 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    First like,
    Than watch!🙂
    Thank you Steve, you helped me a lot on my language learning jurney!
    Good Luck to everyone with your languages!
    From Serbia 🇷🇸❤️🌍

  • @winglow7615
    @winglow7615 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Your verbal delivery is so good!

  • @nomadicmandarin7288
    @nomadicmandarin7288 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    So pleased to hear you talk about the importance of Chinese characters. The visual association actually helps people remember the words. This part of Chinese language is often overlooked. Thank you for sharing Steve. 👍💜

  • @jadecheng8224
    @jadecheng8224 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    It is so inspirational. I referred to your video where you held discussions in Chinese. The tones are perfect. Wish you all the best from China.

    • @Thelinguist
      @Thelinguist  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thank you so much!

  • @carloshernanreyesruiz2513
    @carloshernanreyesruiz2513 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This kind of videos about how you could learn all of thoses languages that you know, are very motivated!

    • @TulekBehar
      @TulekBehar 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You should say " very motivating" I think

  • @herr_k69
    @herr_k69 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Like the slight change in the background setup! Very nice

  • @michaelkensington2494
    @michaelkensington2494 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That's so encouraging! I am learning mandarin Chinese now and I want to improve so much! I love Chinese language ... thank you thank you!

  • @amrmoneer5881
    @amrmoneer5881 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I love learning languages and ur passion in this video makes me more excited. Thank u!

  • @entropyvictim
    @entropyvictim 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i remember when I read your book, I really like this story because it shows someone in a completely different environment, and how this is the best way of learning a language, and also because living in China in the 50s, 60s, 70s sounds so cool

  • @IKEMENOsakaman
    @IKEMENOsakaman 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Wow! Gives me a lot of hope!!

  • @cmmndrblu
    @cmmndrblu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    A year after I started learning, I got Pleco, and since then my tones have always been colours. For some reason, this has helped me massively with tones. - it's easier for me that way rather than the marks

    • @outbreak3607
      @outbreak3607 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Same, I started using it a few months ago and it's awesome

    • @TulekBehar
      @TulekBehar 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      let's interchange. TBWEIXIN2017

    • @dimitrikavanaugh7868
      @dimitrikavanaugh7868 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What's pleco?

    • @twist777hz
      @twist777hz 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@dimitrikavanaugh7868 A Chinese-English dictionary app -- extremely useful

  • @bayroncastillo7653
    @bayroncastillo7653 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Steve ! thank you so much ! for this video is amazing !

  • @yanayana6709
    @yanayana6709 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’m so attracted to Steve. :) Thanks for being an inspiration.

  • @レイ-b9g
    @レイ-b9g ปีที่แล้ว +1

    超励志,超感动。谢谢你

  • @manofglass_4003
    @manofglass_4003 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Very interesting video Steve. I´m learning chinese at the moment, so it helps a lot.

    • @bawang6806
      @bawang6806 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think it's important to focus on the rhythm and stress. Because Chinese is syllable-timed

  • @juliafaber9089
    @juliafaber9089 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Впервые наткнулась на ваши видео года 4 назад. Никогда так еще не мотивировали ваши слова! Очень люблю китайский язык. Еще будучи в средней школе этот он давался куда проще, чем английский. Настолько простой и логичный язык, но никогда не перестаешь открывать что-то новое. А вот английский остался, наверно, тем языком, который приходиться учить через силу. Без интереса и мотивации - это будто карабкаться на Эверест - либо ты сдашься на начале пути, либо сквозь пот и кровь дойдешь до вершины.
    Благодарю Вас за столь интересные видео! Думаю, в скором времени смогу освоиться еще в нескольких языках!)

  • @kodiak4777
    @kodiak4777 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Lingq and Pleco has done wonders for me!

  • @kayka26
    @kayka26 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Ahh steve you're so inspiring. You can learn anything at any age. I'm learning Japanese and have for three months. This reminds me of my motivation. My goal is to learn Chinese too. Both Mandarin and Cantonese .

    • @利群-f6r
      @利群-f6r 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      hi bro i can speak chinese i am learning engliah if you donot mind we can add social media accounts and study together😃

    • @jeancena3556
      @jeancena3556 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@利群-f6rHi. Im a native english speaker and im learning chinese. Are you still looking for someone to practice with

  • @delarammohammadhasanzadeh5974
    @delarammohammadhasanzadeh5974 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    خیلی خوشحال شدم وقتی شنیدم فارسی هم بلدید! ممنون بابت ویدیوتون، امیدوارم من هم بتونم یک روزی انقدر خوب توی زبان های خارجی صحبت کنم.

  • @donghu4622
    @donghu4622 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have started to learn Dutch for two weeks! It's really a nice time to see this recommended video.

  • @cyruschen2618
    @cyruschen2618 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    So great, Steve. 你真厉害👍

  • @CodeIRL
    @CodeIRL 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    In the midst of learning German I've become interested in Chinese too. I'm also 23 so the same age as you started Chinese. :) Thanks for the video.

  • @leili1158
    @leili1158 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey Steve
    Im Persian and I really enjoyed your video specially the flash cards and CDs!
    You're my inspiration of learning languages
    I speak English, French and "of course" Persian and it's been about 6 month that I'm learning Chinese
    And BTW I'll be really happy to help you with Persian
    xiexie! merci pour cette vidéo! C'était super❤️

  • @foxyhu9794
    @foxyhu9794 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Enjoy all of your videos.
    And as a Chinese here, thank you for posting this video.祝大家好运🍀✊🏾

  • @chrisglesner
    @chrisglesner 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent video, Steve! 这很好!

  • @cynthianad
    @cynthianad 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love your content and background. Thank you for sharing this valuable information 🙏

  • @andrew_rogovoy_art
    @andrew_rogovoy_art 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Amazing work! Congratulation with big knowledge!

  • @medialcanthus9681
    @medialcanthus9681 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    A deep interest, admiration and respect for the culture will be a great motivation.

  • @pensandoingles6884
    @pensandoingles6884 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you very much for these videos Steve. You are a huge inspiration for me. I’m reading your book on LingQ in Spanish, and was so excited when I heard you on Jim and May’s Spanish and go podcast, as I’m I huge fan of theirs and of yours. Happy 2021 from Indiana sir!

  • @15tefera
    @15tefera 3 ปีที่แล้ว +164

    Fighting dementia one language at a time.

    • @SkincarewithAliKhalid
      @SkincarewithAliKhalid ปีที่แล้ว +2

      What is dementia

    • @rickynoodles2816
      @rickynoodles2816 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

      ​@@SkincarewithAliKhalidI forgot

    • @SkincarewithAliKhalid
      @SkincarewithAliKhalid 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@rickynoodles2816 what

    • @Fahadx43
      @Fahadx43 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      @@SkincarewithAliKhalidhe forgot

    • @AnimesnikSenpai
      @AnimesnikSenpai 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@SkincarewithAliKhalid
      Maybe you already have learned what it is but if you haven't
      It's a disease when you always forget literally everything even your friends, family, your life and so on

  • @fafainchina
    @fafainchina 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    it'svery useful! Thank you

  • @user-cd7lp2fj2l
    @user-cd7lp2fj2l 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thak you so much for your story. It helps me understand how to imporove my English.

  • @averkij
    @averkij 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Steve, you're very inspirational man.

  • @MrGanbat84
    @MrGanbat84 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    For me. I learn elementary Chinese within the month. I took one book for my basic and a my countries student who was learnt before Chinese in China. So we followed that book. Very very easy to learn and she helped me and directed me so well. I studied with her online by zoom. 2 times in a week. One class was 2 hours. Totally eight times during that month. I should say to people who afraid of learning Chinese this is not difficult at all. Instead of that it is very interesting really. Maybe i was motivated myself strong.
    The book was HSK1, HSK2-4.

  • @lepetitespoir8851
    @lepetitespoir8851 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks Steve, this is so motivating!

  • @brnina1
    @brnina1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That was interesting! I like that funny images popping up. Keep them in future videos.

  • @thaoduyonguyen9855
    @thaoduyonguyen9855 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks you so much. I feel like u gave me more motivation when i watch this video. I love u 😁

  • @JamesWongLife
    @JamesWongLife 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really insightful video, thanks for sharing Steve

  • @dil__lo
    @dil__lo ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for your advises ❤ 😊

  • @yassineal4610
    @yassineal4610 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always you have a good feelings about learning English. Have a good posture. God bless you dear.

  • @nopetheworld977
    @nopetheworld977 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    his passion started when he was 23 and it never died, you can still visibly see it in his eyes now

    • @jeancena3556
      @jeancena3556 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      You can also see the hundreds of thousands of dollars these videos have made him over the years

    • @Xanthas998
      @Xanthas998 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I'm glad he kept it up.

  • @nachocabrera
    @nachocabrera 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Steve,你很厉害! 谢谢 你

  • @observerobserving2199
    @observerobserving2199 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amazing work sir. Ignore some of these internet trolls , you're doing great:)

  • @jiegbee4261
    @jiegbee4261 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Learning Chinese is the lesson of my life

  • @allenwang7906
    @allenwang7906 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You're really Sharp for your age seriously... learning languages must be the reason !

  • @marguerilla
    @marguerilla 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    as a fellow chinese learner who has spent the past 2 years falling in love with and full time studying the language at chinese uni - i love your videos speaking on your language learning motivation and process, it really resonates. especially the awe at china as a world unto itself, finding out hints of the incredible depth and breadth of the great civilizational legacy of china and its central role in world history for much of that time - a topic i knew nearly nothing of despite going to a top 10 uni in the US with one of my undergrad degree in "global culture" - wild! BUT must say your one comment @ 4:12 is incorrect or at least misleading-- the imperialist western nations, imperial era russia etc invaded and humiliated the chinese because they had the advantage of recent and rapid industrialization which propelled them to expand for economic reasons, for trade and growth and enrichment of their own much younger nations, able to colonize china as a weaker non- industrialized nation in a state of turmoil at the time. but i would hardly say it was the advantage of GUNPOWDER that allowed this to happen, when the chinese themselves had invented gunpowder as incendiary device or mechanisms it while europe was still firmly in the dark ages, looong before the west was even marginally developed to the global hegemon it latwr became! gunpowder was one of the four great inventions of chinese antiquity! of course it was not used as such from the start, but they certainly were using as incendiary for use in various forms of weaponry (far beyond arrow projectiles) as documented in 武经总要 at the least and elsewhere prior to that text, though i dont have references on hand for what or where. i do believe the chinese had invented grenades well before the end of the first millennium AD, though again if anyone is interested i encourage looking into the finer details of the so called "gunpowder age" as it pertains to china (as some western historiographies falsely situate this period as starting with its use by europeans more or less in re: the genesis of modern warfare techniques in a western-centric history, unfortunately. )

    • @possumsam2189
      @possumsam2189 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What the West had was the advantage of more advanced and greater-ranged gunpowder weapons and more experience in gunpowder warfare.
      Why did the East fell so behind the West in terms of firearms & innovation?
      Answer: An extended period of relative peace & stability with no external foes.
      When the Manchu Qing took over, they disarmed the Chinese.
      This is due to revolt of the 3 ex-Ming Lord Generals (三藩之亂) and the fear of the Han Chinese that they now ruled.
      They demoted and degraded the 神机营 (Divine Weapon Bureau) to measly undertrained palace guards.
      They controlled the recipe for gunpowder (as well altering it to set certain officials/generals up for failure).
      With no external enemies, progress stagnated and the govt disarmed the population to prevent insurrections.
      There wasn't a reason to innovate or the inspiration to innovate in terms of firearms.
      There was also a clear dividing line and a racial caste system that didn't exist before, further crippling technological advancement,
      pushing China into the Dark ages.
      Soldiery as a profession suffered and military family paid beggars & the dregs of society to take their place as enlistees.
      These dregs/beggars were often the old/underaged/homeless/malnourished/desperate/degenerate drug addicts who were hardly battle-ready
      (And they were chained to their posts during battles to stop them from fleeing).
      When the West came, European gunships and guns heavily outranged and outgunned the Qing Dynasty's heavily outdated firearm arsenal
      (That dated back to the Late Ming Dynasty) & inexperienced troops (who were not even drilled in the proper handling and production of gunpowder as the Manchus feared a Han rebellion and endemic corruption).
      At first, there was peace and the trade was going swimmingly for both sides, which drew the Qing to greater complacency.
      Then, the Qing Dynasty got unsurprisingly destroyed in the 1st Opium War, its open wounds attracted every shark in the ocean.
      In the battles that followed, European gunships were able to easily hammer Chinese coastal fortifcations, bait out retaliatory fire
      by staying out of their cannon range and silence each emplacement with cannon fire without taking any casualties.
      The Chinese coast guard which consisted of underarmoured requisitioned merchant vessels and armed with obsolete firearms & underranged torpedoes were easily destroyed.
      This marked the start of the century of Humiliation.

    • @josephjoebrown11
      @josephjoebrown11 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      yall are over complicating this, what he said was right. China was at a disadvantage in the tech department. Dont be pedantic about this black powder vs that gun powder etc. The west had guns, lots of guns, and the ability to make lots of guns. Guns are better than not guns. Guns are better than fireworks and fireworks on arrows. Guns

    • @诡雅异俗
      @诡雅异俗 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@possumsam2189 唯一的原因就是需求,三十年战争后促进了西方燧发枪的诞生,对于清朝来说周边没有敌人,在与俄罗斯于尼布楚作战的时候双方并没有科技上的差别,但是在一百年后清朝极度衰弱,这是中国王朝共性,中国最大的弱点就是庞大的地理和人口决定了统治非常困难,统治者稍不注意就会快速腐朽

  • @nicoleyoshihara4011
    @nicoleyoshihara4011 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good video! You're an inspiration to us all Steve! Thank you for all you do. Happy New Year! 🥳

  • @KillerTacos54
    @KillerTacos54 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video!

  • @TulekBehar
    @TulekBehar 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amazing. No internet at that time. Immersion must not have been easy at that time

  • @learnmandarin-english-baha2769
    @learnmandarin-english-baha2769 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I teach Trilingual on my channel and tbh, you're great. I applaud you. 👍

  • @Tehui1974
    @Tehui1974 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I always wanted to hear your language journeys of your earliest languages you learnt. I like the way the new folders in your videos by the way.

    • @Thelinguist
      @Thelinguist  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Happy to hear that!

    • @jeanlucas2592
      @jeanlucas2592 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You should read his book, it's pretty awesome

  • @BananaInChina
    @BananaInChina 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    It must be nice to talk to you, and listening to your life stories over a cup of afternoon tea.

  • @sleepypig2022
    @sleepypig2022 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    omg. I feel that I'm quite a weirdo. I'm a chinese living in mainland China, and right now I'm bypassing the GFW to watch an English video teaching people how to learn Chinese.
    well, not my fault. the youtube algorithm brings me here. XD

    • @mixlab7243
      @mixlab7243 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Do u have access to youtube in china?

    • @sleepypig2022
      @sleepypig2022 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mixlab7243 we don't, unless we use VPN or VPS

  • @LLL124Original
    @LLL124Original 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I've been trying to decide whether to learn Chinese or Japanese. Both would help with my personal business goals. Both have aspects of them culturally that I like as well as can relate to. Both are huge on the internet. It's a hard choice because I know it will take a lot of time and I will have to start reaping results as soon as I complete reaching an intermediate level.

    • @jeygee3736
      @jeygee3736 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Just choose which one you're more familiar with

  • @SaiyanJin85
    @SaiyanJin85 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for the tips. I started to learn Japanese and this info is very useful, btw I’m Greek so ευχαριστώ για το ενδιαφέρων σας να μάθετε ελληνικά

  • @shaolin89
    @shaolin89 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I agree. 1911-1949 is the most fascinating period in Chinese history. Great video, and you look great, Steve!

    • @Qladstone
      @Qladstone 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      The Tang dynasty period is pretty great for contrast too.

  • @lukesouza9246
    @lukesouza9246 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very good! I from Brazil

  • @plus-lm8vo
    @plus-lm8vo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    一个中国人在听一个加拿大人说怎么学习汉语😄😄😄👍当成英语听力是很不错的😁😁😁

    • @nicoleraheem1195
      @nicoleraheem1195 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      🥴

    • @東隅
      @東隅 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      那您听懂了吗

    • @r0conscious
      @r0conscious 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      哈哈你为什么看一个学习汉语的视频😅

    • @plus-lm8vo
      @plus-lm8vo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      r0conscious 😂哈哈哈主要还是听英语,练习英语听力

    • @r0conscious
      @r0conscious 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@plus-lm8vo 明白了,那你学了一些新的单词吗😊

  • @milky94
    @milky94 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember using a Chinese dictionary when I was sitting for my Chinese exam. It was quite time consuming to count all the strokes (and hopefully count them right the first time), then go to the corresponding stroke section, find the radical, and then find the characters.
    Thankfully it was a digital exam, so I could just quickly install the Chinese keyboard and use pinyin
    :D

  • @nakibmurad9784
    @nakibmurad9784 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you.

  • @brianm7746
    @brianm7746 ปีที่แล้ว

    Steve, I would love to see you talk with Christopher Rea one day about early modern Chinese literature. He has a wealth of knowledge on the generation of writers you had a fascination with and you would probably have a great time talking to him! He's pretty active on TH-cam on his channel "Modern Chinese Cultural Studies".

  • @hellobeatles613
    @hellobeatles613 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello! Thank you so much for the inspiration! Learning Korean right now haha

  • @Nicolae_Mew
    @Nicolae_Mew 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Steve I just turned 23 and I'm very interested in Chinese culture as you were/are. I've been debating learning Mandarin for a long time, but hearing your story has helped me make up my mind. Here goes nothing!

  • @kkxszz4034
    @kkxszz4034 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Listening XiangSheng is quite usefull LOL. I listened to Trever Noah to learn English and that was a lot help understanding the flow of the speech.

  • @CrlMchd
    @CrlMchd 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Gracias Maestro!

  • @EverydayEasyChinese
    @EverydayEasyChinese 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    So admirable! Keep it up :) 加油

  • @becstravel4578
    @becstravel4578 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    New subscriber here 🇯🇵👏🏻 i want to learn like you do🙏🏻

  • @zankkai208
    @zankkai208 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    A very interesting video. Personally speaking, Chinese language is not a difficult language if people give up on the learning of the characters. In the new digital age, it is totally posssible

    • @hilbert2547
      @hilbert2547 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      it is a very difficult language also without the characters. One tone difference changes the meaning and to memorize the words is also not easy you have to differentiate "zh" ,"j" ,"q" and the tones.

    • @Never_again_against_anyone
      @Never_again_against_anyone 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      One can save time this way. But who wants to be illiterate in a language?!
      I am trying to hit the golden middle; I do not attempt to learn to write the characters by hand, but I am memorizing them, so that I can recognize them and write in pinyin and then select the correct characters.
      Works so far (Started studying 汉语 /中文 in 11/2019, but only as a hobby, so do not expect me to answer questions like "Does this work up to 2000 characters? I do not know. But I started reading mandarin companion books recently and it works so far.)

    • @zankkai208
      @zankkai208 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@Never_again_against_anyone what you said is exactly what I mean, of course reading is very essential in Chinese learning, but we don't need to know how to write them, just read and recognise them, that's enough. We Chinese now hardly write with pen on paper, let alone foreigners. So if one is not so interesting for the characters and want absolutely master them, writing can be abandoned.

  • @davidfuyu
    @davidfuyu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I am Taiwanese (Chinese). Welcome to Taiwan to learn Chinese Mandarin. Mandarin is our speaking language.

    • @senpai6464
      @senpai6464 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Taiwanese = Chinese :O?
      I've never seen/heard any person equaling his/her nationality with another nationality. What a shock to me.

    • @user-xd9ks4ik9s
      @user-xd9ks4ik9s 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@senpai6464 Taiwan is the true china. What people currently refer to as China is the communist party illegally controlling the mainland.

    • @gaoda1581
      @gaoda1581 ปีที่แล้ว

      台湾省万岁!!

    • @DutchComedian
      @DutchComedian ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@senpai6464you live and you learn.

  • @alobo_78
    @alobo_78 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    A very nice story!

  • @michelvandepol1485
    @michelvandepol1485 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    For those who want to learn Chinese, but not the characters, because you maybe want to speak and listen. I highly recommend Baisc Chinese and Intermediate chinese by don rimmington and yip po ching. Two professors from oxford who underrstand how to teach!

  • @whyamihere1293
    @whyamihere1293 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    你太厉害了!

  • @zbigniewbrzezinski8869
    @zbigniewbrzezinski8869 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I would like to know how you managed to learn Chinese characters, which, for me, are the most difficult aspect of learning Chinese ?!

    • @jeygee3736
      @jeygee3736 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      He did lots of flashcards and reading

  • @brancatiross
    @brancatiross 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Steve, I'm an italian, so you can understand my struggles for learning languages. I had to improve English first, before start learning mandarin.

  • @nicoleraheem1195
    @nicoleraheem1195 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I've had a few people criticize me for remaining in Hsk level 2/3 for one year.
    Its advise to not learn Characters until after at least two years of study but I have studied writing, listening and learning the grammar for these Characters. I may have delayed my progress.
    I've been told that chinese people are less patient with adults than Korean and japanese are, when it comes to learning Language.
    I don't have any asian friends🤷🏽‍♀️and at least three of my Chinese tutors didn't last a month. One of them laughed at the fact that I couldn't understand an motivational speaker and teased me for it. 🤦🏾‍♀️
    It hurt a bit because I do feel like I've should've studied conversational phrases until I realized the only reason why I started learning chinese was because I no longer wanted to read subtitles on chinese dramas.
    If I have to face this lack of support, encouragement and rudeness through conversation then I refuse to engage with mandarin speakers until I've mastered hsk level 6😒🙄
    I'll just randomly speak chinese like that white guy XiaoNYC on youtube.🤷🏽‍♀️
    I often view your videos for motivation. Also, I love Lindie Botes 💕 Because she's also Inspiring.
    Thank you for sharing your experiences, Mr. Kaufman

  • @Bnbakr552
    @Bnbakr552 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Steve Kaufman, i really am motivated by your video. I am a Nigerian who speaks Fulani, Hausa, English, Arabic and currently learning Hindi. I would like to know how long, on average, it would take to learn Chinese to a fluency level. Thank you

    • @Thelinguist
      @Thelinguist  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      At least one year, but probably closer to three years depending on how much time you have to spend and how much opportunity to connect with native speakers. Good luck.

  • @tonychen4589
    @tonychen4589 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for the video (and all other videos, podcasts, interivews), Steve! I'm a Chinese Canadian living in Toronto. I'm learning Spanish right now. I've recently discovered Pablo's Dreaming Spanish, and I truly believe in his (or Stephen Krashen's) theory of "comprehensible input". Are you aware of any good "comprehensible input" in Chinese?

  • @badboy-xs6mr
    @badboy-xs6mr 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great I wish for everyone to learn any language 👌👌👌👌

  • @folomba
    @folomba ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello! Thanks!

  • @shawnz401
    @shawnz401 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    You’re my goal! Thanks for sharing this video.